Wisconsin Senate control still up in the air

MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Senate Democrats are moving ahead as if they have regained control of the chamber through Tuesday's recall elections even though the crucial race is too close to call.

The Senate stood divided 16-16 between Republicans and Democrats heading into the elections. Unofficial results from the race in Racine's 21st Senate District showed Democratic challenger John Lehman leading incumbent Republican Sen. Van Wanggaard by less than 800 votes, and Wanggaard has refused to concede.

Senate Democratic Leader Mark Miller has declared himself majority leader regardless. He held a news conference to say he's already spoken to Republican Senate Leader Scott Fitzgerald about details of the transition.

Fitzgerald says Miller's stance is premature. He spoke to Miller but only about meeting to discuss committee structures if Democrats have indeed won the chamber.

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MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Republican state Sen. Van Wanggaard says he is still deciding whether to pursue a recount in his recall election that preliminary results show he lost to Democrat John Lehman by 779 votes.

The outcome of the race will determine which party controls the Senate.

Wanggaard said in a statement Wednesday that he intends to closely monitor the canvass of votes and then evaluate whether to pursue a recount. He says there were a number of outstanding absentee ballots and voting irregularities.

Lehman is up 1.09 percentage points based on the unofficial returns.

The county's board of canvassers has until June 15 to submit the canvassed totals. Once the last report is in, the candidates have three business days, or June 20 at the latest, to ask for a recount.

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